Get Controls -> Lights Guide for BMW X3 SUV Second Generation (2011-2017)

Lights

Controls

Lights

Vehicle equipment

Side lights/low-beam

headlights, driving lights

control

This chapter describes all standard, national

and special equipment provided in the model

series. Equipment not available in the vehicle is

therefore also described, for example the se‐

lected special equipment or national version.

This also applies to safety-relevant functions

and systems. Comply with the relevant na‐

tional regulations when using the correspond‐

ing functions and systems.

General

Switch position:

,

If the driver's door is opened with the ignition

switched off, the exterior lights are automati‐

cally switched off with these switch settings.

Side lights

Switch position

ted all around, for example when parking.

: the vehicle is illumina‐

Overview

You should not leave the side lights on for lon‐

ger periods of time, since the vehicle battery

could discharge and you might not have

enough power to start the engine.

To park, it is better to switch on the one-sided

parking light, see page 100.

Low-beam headlights

Switch position

on: low-beam headlights are illuminated.

with the ignition switched

1

2

3

Rear fog lights

Front fog lights

Depending on equipment: automatic driv‐

ing lights control, adaptive headlights, high

beam assistance, welcome light, daytime

driving lights

Welcome lights

On parking the vehicle, leave the switch in po‐

sition

or

: the side lights and interior

light illuminate briefly when unlocking the vehi‐

cle, possibly dependent on the ambient bright‐

ness.

4

5

6

Lights off, daytime driving lights

Side lights

Depending on equipment: low-beam head‐

lights, welcome light, high beam assis‐

tance

Activating/deactivating

1. "Settings"

2. "Lights"

7

8

Instrument lighting

3. "Welcome light"

Headlight beam throw adjustment

The setting is stored for the currently used

profile.

99

Controls

Lights

Headlight courtesy delay feature

Activating/deactivating

If the headlight flasher is activated after switch‐

ing off the radio ready state, with the lights

switched off, the low-beam headlights illumi‐

nate and remain on for a certain time.

In some countries daytime driving lights are

compulsory, which is why the daytime driving

lights cannot be deactivated.

1. "Settings"

2. "Lights"

Setting the duration

1. "Settings"

3. "Daytime driving lights"

The setting is stored for the currently used

profile.

2. "Lights"

3. "Home lights:"

4. Set the duration.

Parking lights

The setting is stored for the currently used

profile.

Automatic driving lights control

Switch position

: depending on ambient

brightness, the system switches the low-beam

headlights off and on automatically, for exam‐

ple in a tunnel, at twilight and in rain or snow.

The indicator light in the instrument cluster is

illuminated.

The vehicle can be illuminated on one side.

When emerging from tunnels in daylight, low-

beam headlights are not switched off immedi‐

ately, but only after approximately 2 minutes.

Switching on

With the ignition switched off, push the lever

upwards or downwards beyond the resistance

point for approximately 2 seconds.

The headlights may also come on when the

sun is sitting low in a blue sky.

The low-beam headlights always remain on

when the fog lights are switched on.

Switching off

Press the lever briefly in the opposite direction

as far as the resistance point.

Personal responsibility

The driving lights control function is no

substitute for your individual judgement of

when it is necessary to switch on the lights.

Adaptive Headlights

The sensors are unable, for instance, to recog‐

nise fog or hazy weather. In such situations,

switch on the lights manually to avoid any

safety risk.◀

Principle

Adaptive Headlights is a variable headlight

control system that makes it possible to illumi‐

nate the road surface responsively.

Daytime driving lights

The daytime driving lights illuminate when the

ignition is switched on in position

The beams from the headlights follow the road

ahead on the basis of the steering angle and

other parameters.

or

.

100

Lights

Controls

Depending on the speed, the variable light dis‐

tribution ensures even better illumination of

the roadway.

Headlight beam throw

adjustment

With halogen headlights adjust the beam

throw of the low-beam headlights manually in

accordance with the vehicle load. Otherwise,

the glare will disturb drivers of oncoming vehi‐

cles.

The light distribution is automatically adapted

to the speed. The city light is active as of a

speed of less than 50 km/h, 30 mph. The mo‐

torway light is switched on at a speed higher

than 110 km/h, 68 mph after approximately

30 seconds or as of a speed of 140 km/h,

87 mph.

Values applicable when towing a trailer:

0 / 1 = 1 to 2 persons without luggage.

1 / 1 = 5 persons without luggage.

1 / 2 = 5 persons with luggage.

Activating

Switch position

on.

with the ignition switched

2 / 2 = 1 person, boot fully loaded.

So as not to dazzle oncoming vehicles, the

adaptive cornering light does not swivel to the

driver's side when stationary.

High-beam assistance

A cornering light is activated automatically de‐

pending on the steering angle or use of the

turn indicators.

Principle

When low-beam headlights are switched on,

this system automatically switches the high-

beam headlights on and off or fades out the

areas which dazzle oncoming vehicles. This

process is controlled by a camera on the front

of the rear-view mirror. The assistant ensures

that the high-beam headlights are switched on

whenever the traffic situation allows. You can

also control the lights yourself at any time and

switch them on and off as usual.

The cornering light may be switched on when

driving in reverse, irrespective of the steering

angle.

If you are crossing the border to countries

where they drive on the other side of the road

the headlights are converted, see page 103,

and the adaptive cornering light may only be

available with restrictions.

Adaptive headlight beam throw

adjustment

Information

Personal responsibility

The adaptive headlight beam throw adjust‐

ment aligns the acceleration and brake pro‐

cesses, in order not to glare oncoming vehicles

and to reach optimum lighting of the carriage‐

way.

The high-beam assistance cannot re‐

place the personal decision to use the high

beam. In such situations you should dip the

headlights manually in order not to create a

safety hazard.◀

Malfunction

A Check Control message is displayed.

Adaptive Headlights are faulty or have failed.

Have the system checked as soon as possible.

101

Controls

Lights

Activating

Raising and dipping manually

1. Depending on equipment, turn the light

switch to position or

▷

High-beam headlights on, arrow 1.

.

High-beam headlights off / headlight

flasher, arrow 2.

2. Press the button on the turn indicator

lever, arrow.

The high beam assistance can be deactivated

by manually raising and dipping. To reactivate

high-beam assistance, press the button on the

turn indicator lever.

The indicator light in the instrument

cluster is illuminated.

When the low-beam headlights are on, the

beam is dipped and returned to full beam auto‐

matically.

System limits

In the following situations, the system will not

operate or its operation will be impaired and

your intervention may be required:

The system responds to light from oncoming

traffic and traffic driving ahead of you, and to

adequate illumination, for example in built-up

areas.

▷

During extremely unfavourable weather

conditions such as fog or heavy precipita‐

tion.

The blue indicator light in the instru‐

ment cluster illuminates if the high

beam is switched on by the system.

▷

When detecting poorly-lit road users such

as pedestrians, cyclists or horseback riders

or carts, and when trains or ships are close

to the road, or when game are passing

across the road.

Depending on the version of the system instal‐

led in the vehicle, it may be that the high beam

is not switched off for oncoming vehicles, but

only the areas which dazzle the oncoming ve‐

hicles are faded out. In this case, the blue indi‐

cator light continues to illuminate.

▷

On narrow bends, steep uphill or downhill

gradients, at traffic junctions or if your view

of oncoming vehicles on a motorway is ob‐

structed.

If you are crossing the border to countries

where they drive on the other side of the road,

the headlights are converted, see page 103,

and the high beam assistance is deactivated.

In poorly-lit towns and where there are very

reflective signs.

▷

At low road speeds.

When the windscreen in front of the rear-

view mirror is covered with condensation,

dirt, stickers, labels, etc.

102

Lights

Controls

LED headlight, Xenon headlight

Switching over headlights

Fog lights

Front fog lights

The headlight adjustment is done using the

iDrive.

The side lights or low-beam headlights must

be switched on.

1. "Settings"

Press the button. The green indicator

light is illuminated.

2. "Lights"

3. "Headlights"

4. "Headlight adaption"

If automatic driving lights control, see

page 100, has been activated, the low-beam

headlights illuminate automatically when the

front fog lights are switched on.

The high beam assistance, see page 101,

may only be available with restrictions.

The adaptive cornering light, see

page 100, may only be available with re‐

strictions.

Guiding fog lights

In switch position

wider illumination is also activated up to a

speed of 110 km/h, 68 mph.

, a guide fog light for a

Instrument lighting

Rear fog lights

The low-beam headlights or front fog lights

must be switched on.

Adjusting

The brightness can only be ad‐

justed when the side lights or

the low-beam headlights are

switched on.

Press the button. The yellow indicator

light is illuminated.

The brightness can be set using

the knurled wheel.

Left-hand/right-hand traffic

General

When driving in countries where the opposite

rule of the road applies, you need to prevent

your headlights from dazzling oncoming vehi‐

cles.

Interior light

General

The interior light, the footwell lights, door entry

lighting and the courtesy lighting are controlled

automatically.

Halogen headlights

Your Service Centre can provide the appropri‐

ate light benders that can be affixed to the

headlight lenses. Proceed in accordance with

the enclosed information when affixing the

light benders to the headlights.

The brightness of some equipment is influ‐

enced by the knurled wheel for the instrument

lighting.

103

Controls

Lights

Overview

Adjusting brightness

The brightness of the ambient light can be set

over the knurled wheel for the instrument light‐

ing or on the Control Display.

1. "Settings"

2. "Lights"

3. "Brightness:"

4. Adjusting brightness.

1

2

Interior light

Reading light

Switching the interior light on and off

manually

Press the button.

To switch off permanently: press the button for

approximately three seconds.

Switch on again: press button.

Reading lights

Press the button.

There are reading lights located at the front

and in the rear beside the interior lights.

Ambient lighting

Depending on the equipment, the lighting in

the interior can be set individually for a few

lights.

Selecting colour scheme

1. "Settings"

2. "Lights"

3. "Ambient:"

4. Select the desired setting.

104

Controls -> Lights for Your BMW X3 SUV Second Generation (2011-2017)

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